Head-to-head · Best Step Ladders

Little Giant Flip-N-Lite 6 ft Aluminum Platform Stepladder (15270-001) vs Rubbermaid RMA-3XST 3-Step Lightweight Aluminum Step Stool with Oversized Project Tray (250 lb, Type I)

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Little Giant Flip-N-Lite 6 ft Aluminum Platform Stepladder (15270-001) comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.3 vs 3.7). Little Giant Flip-N-Lite 6 ft Aluminum Platform Stepladder (15270-001) is best for: Homeowners and tradespeople who move a 6-foot ladder around a lot, from room to room, up stairs, or in and out of a truck, and want a 300 lb Type IA rating and a real standing platform at about 14 lb. Read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #3 in Best Step Ladders

Little Giant Flip-N-Lite 6 ft Aluminum Platform Stepladder (15270-001)

4.3

3 sourcesall derived$169.94as of Oct 24

Bob Vila named the 6-foot Flip-N-Lite its Best Lightweight step ladder after hands-on tests, and its tester called it "stable, portable, and super simple to use", though its feet slid a little on laminate. Business Insider's carpenter-tester also named it best lightweight, praising the 13-inch platform and the release handle, but noted the bare-bones top tray and plastic parts. A YouTube owner review (Reviews Unscripted) backs up the light weight and the locking handle. Wirecutter left it out without testing, citing the price and a single platform step.

Strengths

— Weighs about 14 lb, which Bob Vila called extremely portable and Business Insider called its lightest full-size ladder
— Type IA duty rating supports 300 lb; Bob Vila's tester bounced on it and found it perfectly stable
— Release handle at the back of the platform unlocks it for folding and keeps it shut while carried (Bob Vila, Business Insider)

Watch-outs

— Bob Vila found its nonslip feet slid slightly when the ladder was pushed on laminate flooring
— Top cap is a basic tray with no drill or screwdriver holes (Business Insider)
— Business Insider says its plastic components aren't as durable as metal

$169.94 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #4 in Best Step Ladders

Rubbermaid RMA-3XST 3-Step Lightweight Aluminum Step Stool with Oversized Project Tray (250 lb, Type I)

3.7

1 source$179.91as of Oct 24

Rubbermaid's RMA-3XST is a 250-pound Type I three-step aluminum stool built around an oversized magnetized project tray. Real Simple named it Best Lightweight Ladder and The Spruce featured it in its step-stool roundup; both are Dotdash Meredith titles and appear to describe the same six-month home test. Both say it never felt wobbly and both found the paper-towel bar flimsy. Bob Vila's hands-on step-stool test gave it 4/5 overall, praising the stable top step but noting it can tip if you lean sideways. The independent evidence is fairly thin, and the current price of about $180 is steep.

Strengths

— Felt sturdy and wobble-free in Real Simple's six-month test, helped by wide steps and non-slip, non-marring feet that stayed put
— Large magnetized project tray holds a paint can, with brush/tool holes, a removable screw box, and a paper-towel bar; Real Simple gave it a perfect features score
— Big platform top step: Bob Vila's testers stood, jumped, and turned around on it confidently, useful for overhead painting

Watch-outs

— The paper-towel bar is flimsy (Real Simple and The Spruce both flag it)
— Tends to tip if you lean too far to either side (Bob Vila)
— At $179.91 on Amazon when checked, it costs far more than most 3-step stools; the roughly $100 Target listing reviewers cited is gone

$179.91 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

Little Giant Flip-N-Lite 6 ft Aluminum Platform Stepladder (15270-001)

The lightest full-size ladder here at about 14 lb, roughly 3.5 lb lighter than the Gorilla GLX-5B and 10 lb lighter than the Little Giant King Kombo 2.0, with the same 300-lb Type IA rating as the Gorilla. It has one 13-in platform where the Gorilla GLX-5B has two deep steps, and it currently costs more than the Gorilla. Choose the King Kombo 2.0 instead for electrical work.

Rubbermaid RMA-3XST 3-Step Lightweight Aluminum Step Stool with Oversized Project Tray (250 lb, Type I)

A three-step stool rather than a full 6-ft ladder: at about 11 lb it is the lightest pick and the only one with an oversized magnetized paint tray, but its 33.5-in platform sits below the 3 ft 9 in top standing level of the Gorilla GLX-5B and Little Giant Flip-N-Lite, and its 250-lb Type I rating is the lowest here. At its current price it costs more than the Gorilla GLX-5B, which reaches higher.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Little Giant Flip-N-Lite 6 ft Aluminum Platform Stepladder (15270-001)	Rubbermaid RMA-3XST 3-Step Lightweight Aluminum Step Stool with Oversized Project Tray (250 lb, Type I)
Height	6 ft (storage height 6 ft 3 in)	—
Max Reach	10 ft 3 in	9 ft 3 in
Top Standing Height	3 ft 9 in (platform)	—
Load Capacity	300 lb	250 lb
Duty Rating	ANSI Type IA	ANSI Type I (A14.2)
Material	Aluminum	Aluminum
Weight	14 lb	10.5-11.2 lb (sources vary)
Platform/Top	13 x 13 in platform; tool-tray top cap	—
Folded Dimensions	75 x 21 x 4 in	60 x 20.7 x 4.7 in
Warranty	1 year	1-year limited
Steps	—	3 + oversized platform top step (13.2 x 10.4 in)
Platform Height	—	33.5 in

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